Tyre Choice New tyres fitted, ContiSportContact 3. Sweet!

[Courant]

Hello,

Just got some new tyres fitted. Off with the Michelin Primacys, on with the Continental Sport Contact 3s in 225/45R17 91Y.

I know everyone round here's been going for the Goodyear Eagle F1s, which were a serious contender. They're clearly a very good tyre and they've been winning tests and setting highest lateral-gs. Fine. But, tyres and cars need to work in harmony and there's no such thing as the "best" tyre, because all test results are an accumulation of sometimes subjective scores! With this in mind, three things swung the decision contintental's way.

1. Ride. For me, the biggest issue with the civic is the ride quality and grip on rough roade. Sure, it handles very well generally but it really doesn't deal with rough roads nicely at all. Not compared to say, a Focus, which also handles very nicely! So this is a high priority. Both the Goodyear and the Conti rate very highly in this regard in all the tests I've read. However, tyre weight is the clincher here and my feeling is the civic's suspension might be more sensitive to tyre weight than other cars (notable the Golf, in which most of these tyre tests tend to be performed!), where the suspension already works well in the comfort sphere. Emailed goodyear and conti and the difference in weight is quite large - Goodyear 10.7kg vs Conti 9.5kg.

2. Wear. Ignoring magazine test results (which don't tend to measure wear), and based on user reports from here/tirerack/tyrereviews/various german forums, the goodyear doesn't seem to last very long. Conversely, the conti appears to be giving good life. This is all very subjective but there is enough of a common theme to user reviews to convince me that the conti might last longer. At the same nominal price, this makes it a cheaper option and given I'm doing 25,000m+ a year, this is important!

3. Consistent performance. User reviews for both tyres are very favourable. Magazine reviews for both tyres similarly so, the goodyear always seems to come top (with some notable exceptions) while the conti is invariably in 2nd/3rd place (without exception!). A common theme tends to be how well it drives and consistent performance across wet/dry conditions. So basically, I don't think there's much here to separate the two tyres.

Anyway, they've just been fitted so I'll hold off giving a fuller opinion till I've put some more miles in them. However, here's a first impression....

I'm actually pretty staggered by the change these tyres have had on the steering (another area of beef with the civic... maybe it was the tyres all along?!). Steering has got *much* more responsive, the whole car feels livelier and sharper, with much improved turn-in. Wasn't expecting this at all! The steering has got a quite a bit lighter (not such a good thing in itself, in my book) but there seems to be quite a bit more feel and less of that strong mind-of-its-own self-centering. The combined effect is positive, it makes for a much better driving experience, the whole steering feels more with it. Feels quite a different car actually, which is very pleasing because it's the better!

Ride seems to be considerably improved, which I'm really pleased about. I've yet to test it on some really bad roads I drive regularly, but I'll report back when I do! But first impressions in this area seem really favourable, it takes up rough sections and, say, cat-eyes far better. Plus much less tramlining, this is probably linked to the change in steering feel.

Road noise is better. I wouldn't say it's a quiet tyre (and this doesn't really concern me) but it's definitely quieter than the Michelins, which had a tendency to roar. These have some road noise but it's more a medium pitched whistle, which tends to come out at 30-45mph and it goes relatively quieter after that. I'll be driving along a particularly bad patch of the M11 this weekend, so that will be the acid test!

Anyway, I'll post a fuller opinion once I've had a few more miles with them and scrubbed them a bit so I can comment on grip.

So far, so good and these seem an excellent set of tyres, well matched to the civic.

Courant

PS I have to make another plug for Event tyres, who continue to impress me with their service and prices Event Mobile Tyres - Cheap Car Tyres, 4x4 Tyres & Run Flat Tyres - Mobile Tyre Fitting

[Courant]

I'll briefly revise my comments having put another couple of hundred miles on the tyres...

I'm *very* impressed by both the increase in ride comfort and reduction in road noise of these tyres compared to the Michelins. Drove two sections of road which always had me reaching for the the volume knob before - now I hardly noticed the change. Plus the steering feel & precision continues to amaze. An excellent tyre so far!

Courant

[GHGH]

Do you know how CSC3 is compared to CSC2?
According to the latest test in Auto Motor&Sport, CSC2 is excellent in most respects except rolling resistance; where it is only average, at best.

[Courant]

I think the main difference are meant to be an increase in both wet and dry grip, plus longer life. I don't think rolling resistance is that great on these - certainly (from memory) in the Evo test, it came middle/lower half of the table. It's definitely a performance tyre rather than a "touring" tyre, albeit one with good comfort and (hopefully) respectable wear.

Just done one tank with them and there's no obvious difference at the pump - I'll see if a trend emerges over the next few weeks.

Courant

[GHGH]

I'm just curious .
After changing from unstudded 205/55-16 Continental winter tyres to my 225/45-17 Michelin Primacy, I notice a slightly better MPG with my summer tyres. (from 48 to 50 on easy extra urban driving - computer display).

I also had to correct the toe-in slightly (was 9' out on both front wheels) which caused the car to "wander" a bit on our tarmac, which is worn by studded tyres. the 225-tyres are quite sensitive.

[allan40alt]

I found this report for info:


Continental Sport Contact 3
The Continental Sport Contact 3 recommended in Which magazine as a Best Buy in 2006 has an asymmetric tread pattern designed for shorter braking distances at high speeds and also benefits from excellent directional stability and precise steering. Designed as the ultimate high performance tyre for high performance sports cars ithis tyre is fitted as original equipment to the Audi RS4, A5 and Mercedes SLK.

...and this is the manufacturers write-up:

Manufacturer's Description:

Extremely sporty. Safety without compromise: The new ContiSportContact 3

One of the most cruicial requirements of tyres fitted on high performance sports cars is agile steering precision. This ensures your vehicle maintains good adherence to the road in face of the considerable forces acting on the tyres when driving at high speeds, making abrupt manoevres or changes in road surfaces. The asymmetric tread pattern ribs on the new ContiSportContact 3 are designed to absorb these forces.

On dry roads, the new tread pattern ribs provide outstanding braking capability and steering precision, by absorbing the forces exerted on braking. This means a reduction in stopping distances.
On wet surfaces, the unique grooves allow increased clearance of water for better resistance to aquaplaning.

The pattern ribs provide shorter braking distances.
Longitudinal forces come into effect when braking. These forces are retained by the continuous pattern ribs due to their high longitudinal stiffness. The result is an improved braking performance.

The asymmetry secures improved steering precision.
During swift and abrupt steering manoeuvres high lateral forces act on the pattern ribs from the outside. The angled sides stabilise the ribs and reduce their deformation under such forces thus resulting in an increased steering precision.

I note though that the tread pattern looks slightly different than the tyre shown on the first report:
CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTACT 3 (HIGH PERFORMANCE)

[illegalhunter]

i got 1 for my R

[Courant]

Originally Posted by GHGH

I'm just curious .
After changing from unstudded 205/55-16 Continental winter tyres to my 225/45-17 Michelin Primacy, I notice a slightly better MPG with my summer tyres. (from 48 to 50 on easy extra urban driving - computer display).

I also had to correct the toe-in slightly (was 9' out on both front wheels) which caused the car to "wander" a bit on our tarmac, which is worn by studded tyres. the 225-tyres are quite sensitive.

Yes, I think the main selling point of the Primacys is their excellent wear rate and rolling resistance.

Interestingly, the tramline "wander" I had with the Michelins has almost completely disappeared with the Contis, they drive very true. This also makes cornering a complete pleasure, because it's really easy to find the right line and steering angle, and adjustments are smooth, and this is all achieved with an increase in steering feel.

Courant

[GHGH]

Originally Posted by Courant

Interestingly, the tramline "wander" I had with the Michelins has almost completely disappeared with the Contis, they drive very true.

This is very useful information , I'd already started considering fitting 205/50 on my 7x17's next time in order to minimize this "wandering".
Problem is to find the correct Load Index (I've found 89 and 93 - not 91) with that dimension, in addition to the higher cost.